News Releases

Complaint against mortgage servicers filed, paving way for $25 billion mortgage settlement WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, along with 48 state attorneys general plus the District of Columbia, joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in alleging misconduct by the nation's five largest mortgage servicers in a civil complaint filed today.

OLYMPIA – A Seattle woman was sentenced Tuesday for Medicaid fraud charges filed by the Attorney General’s Office.

“Comprehensive integration” of consumer data may compromise privacy SEATTLE – In a letter to Google Chief Executive Larry Page, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and 35 other state attorneys general outlined concerns about big changes to Google’s privacy policy. State attorneys general say the changes, going into effect on March 1, threaten the confidentiality of Google customers.  State AGs also say it has the potential to heighten the risk of identity theft and fraud, given that Google plans to store more detailed customer information.

 OLYMPIA – A prehearing conference occurred Wednesday for Jodi D. Becker of Eatonville. The defendant is charged with Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree for causing bodily harm to a Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) client, which led to his death. Becker, whose license was revoked by DSHS, was the owner and administrator of Eatonville Manor, a boarding home located in Pierce County.  She is also charged with 12 counts of Theft in the First Degree, two counts of Theft in the Second Degree and one count of Medicaid False Statement.  In addition to Becker, a separate charge of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree was also brought against the DSHS client’s medical provider, nurse practitioner Joanne Hardtke.

SEATTLE – If history is any guide, scammers will surely try to take advantage of news of the largest consumer protection settlement in U.S. history.  

SEATTLE – Nearly a year of intense negotiations over mortgage servicing and foreclosure abuses has resulted in the largest consumer financial protection settlement in U.S. history. Thousands of Washington state homeowners stand to benefit who have already lost their homes or are struggling with mortgages larger than the value of their property.

Telecoms, collection agencies and broadband providers again top complaints to AG’s Office SEATTLE – The numbers are in. The Washington State Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division today announced their annual list of the top 20 classes of companies about which consumers complain.

SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg today asked businesses to reinforce their work to protect consumer data.

SEATTLE – If you use Facebook, the world’s top social networking site, you may have “liked” an Internet scheme without even knowing it – and unwittingly helped spread the scam to your Facebook friends. But today, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and Facebook announced the latest step in an ongoing fight against spammers and scammers: a lawsuit against the co-owners of Adscend Media, LLC, an ad network that is alleged to develop and encourage others to spread spam through misleading and deceptive tactics, including the one known as “clickjacking.”

SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna will visit Facebook’s Seattle headquarters Thursday to announce a joint legal strategy against a pervasive new scheme that takes advantage of those using the social media platform.